Russian President Vladimir Putin recently condemned the exclusion of Russia from events marking the 80th anniversary of the liberation of Auschwitz, calling it “shameful.” He stressed the importance of acknowledging the Soviet Union’s pivotal role in liberating Nazi death camps during World War II, which included Auschwitz, Majdanek, and others. Putin criticized the decision not to invite surviving families of Soviet soldiers, highlighting that while leaders like Ukraine’s President Zelensky and German Chancellor Scholz were invited, Russia was excluded due to the ongoing war in Ukraine. He suggested that at least the families of Soviet veterans should have been honored at the event.
The latest Auschwitz liberation anniversary ceremony took place on January 27, 2025, at the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial in Oświęcim, Poland. This event marked the 80th anniversary of the camp’s liberation. The main commemoration began at 4:00 pm in a special tent constructed over the gate to the former Auschwitz II-Birkenau camp.
The ceremony was attended by survivors, their families, and international dignitaries, including German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, Britain’s King Charles III, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Polish President Andrzej Duda. Notably, Russian representatives were absent due to geopolitical tensions stemming from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
During the ceremony, survivors shared their testimonies, emphasizing the importance of remembering the atrocities committed and warning against rising antisemitism and hatred in the modern world.
